Idealist types

The Idealism triad includes Ones, Fours, and Sevens, types who are naturally attuned to the gap between their positive visions of the world and actual reality, which continually falls short. They strive to manifest their ideals and to avoid disappointment by focusing on possibility and potential.

Idealism types often envision how the world could be, crafting utopian visions of what “perfection” could look like in their relationships, workplaces, homes, creative expressions, and the world at large.

Their uncompromising sense for what could be often makes them visionaries; they can always see a better process or end result. This endless drive to improve things, often to make them feel more exact, significant, or enjoyable, can be inspiring to others. Yet it can also be challenging because their strong impression of what’s possible is often at odds with ordinary existence, which often lets them down. There’s a void in Idealism types that can never truly be filled, as perfection is unattainable.

They tend to broadcast this frustration regardless of whether they’re aware of doing so, radiating a sense of disappointment or having a tinge of condescension in their tone. Their quest for the ideal extends both to themselves and to others in their life, which creates a mix of not feeling like they’re enough, that others are not rising to the occasion, or both. Working to manifest their ideals leads them to try to attain excellence and avoid frustration, but may keep these types out of touch with what’s happening in the present.

The Idealism triad has a knack for seeing opportunities and possibilities in any situation, orienting to the best of what’s imaginable and not getting stuck on what “can’t” be done.

Fours

Fours yearn for perfection in meaning and substance. They focus on what is missing, and get out of touch with appreciating the wholeness of what already exists. Longing for an ideal world in which nothing important or substantial is lacking gives Fours a direction for their creative abilities, as many of their endeavors seek to express whatever they feel is left out. Their unique perspectives often lead Fours to tread in previously untapped areas, contributing new approaches and materials that others fail to see.

However, Fours’ idealism can be the source of both immense creativity and blockages, as the same energy that shows them what the world needs may also stand in the way of them taking action. There’s an inner voice that tells Fours that nothing will ever be good enough: the timing isn’t right, their mood isn’t optimal, the final product will never be as exceptional as it is in their minds, so it isn’t worth the effort.

Fours may then languish in a painful space that sits between the desire to add what’s missing and the hesitation to fall short in doing so. Their idealism applies to their work products as well as their sense of self; there’s often a complex mix of appreciation for the singular aspects of their personalities, but a contempt for the characteristics that they wish they didn’t have.

Fours tend to feel like others continually misunderstand them, which leads them to be deliberate in their word choices and self-presentation (yet almost always feel that it’s not enough and their real self isn’t coming through). They may fixate on what’s wrong, missing, or incomplete as a way of figuring out how to get closer to their ideal vision.

Fours can reduce their disappointment with what’s present by reminding themselves that living in a perpetual state of frustration is itself not ideal, because it prevents them from enjoying the beauty of life. All we have is right now: the past is merely memories that show up in the present, and the future is not guaranteed.